Mac, jolted awake by all the sudden movements, snorted, looked up and said, “Are we there yet?” He then reached into his coat, produced his flask, took a quick drink; and then, upon seeing John and Kurt staring back at him with incredulous looks on their faces, he asked, “What, did I miss something?”
CHAPTER 3
WELCOME TO MUSICAROLINA
John slowly navigated their car along the ancient stone-cobbled streets of Musicarolina. As they casually passed by, each of them, in turn, took in the storybook images of the buildings that were steadily being revealed by the car’s headlights. Each successive building that they passed by they found to be entirely, hauntingly unique, and looked as if they were either the illustrations of some long-lost fairy tale book that had leapt off the page and come to life, or perhaps the master creations of some crazed architect, trying to conjure memories of Byzantine cities of old. It appeared to the three as if each one of these seemingly magical structures merely flickered into existence within that tiny universe of radiant light provided by the headlights and then faded back into a distant, lost memory as they passed by and the darkness once again enveloped it, carrying it back to it’s proper time and place. In almost any other circumstance, it would have been a truly breathtaking sight to behold, but somehow, here, in this unnatural place, bathed in the light of the full moon, the town’s beautiful façade somehow cracked and took on an eerie, foreboding quality. Still, they continued along on their gradual and utterly silent trek through the streets. It didn’t take them very long at all, even traveling at a snail’s pace as they were, to traverse the entire scenic route through the town.
There was only one main road and it snaked its way inexorably through the entire length of Musicarolina, or at least what could be seen from the road. There was an ominous sense that there was much more to this town than what could be seen, and it was hiding just out of view or perception, somewhere out in the night. They drove past the water tower and the town hall and then John turned the car, still following the serpentine stone path. The three eventually passed by a building that was quite unlike the others they had seen up until this point. It was a small wooden church. It had a simple wooden frame and humble exterior, which instantly set it apart from the much larger stone buildings with their garish decorations that populated the rest of the town.
As they traveled past and presumably upon seeing them, the door of the church was flung wide open, and the preacher quickly darted across the church yard and waved at them with both arms, desperately, seemingly imploring them to come over, but they simply ignored him and continued on their way. “Sorry, padre, but I’m not much in the mood for a midnight Mass tonight,” John muttered under his breath. Other than these uneasy words, they stayed deathly quiet in the car, as they made their way through the increasingly bizarre scene unfolding all around them. They felt as if they were under some odd spell that the town seemed to be casting upon each of them. So, like the town itself, those in the car remained still and silent. They continued down the road twisting through town, past houses and tiny shops. The lights in many of the buildings were on, which allowed the car’s occupants to see clearly inside any one of them, but never once did they catch even a fleeting glimpse of anything or anyone moving within. There was not one shape, not one shadow, not even the movement of someone quickly ducking out of sight, not wishing to be spotted by the intruders to this hidden world.
In simple point of fact, there were no people at all, other than the preacher, anywhere to be seen in the entire town. There were no pedestrians out on the streets, taking a casual stroll in the moonlight. They didn’t pass another car driving down the road, nor even once did they see anyone watching them, curiously, from a window, from behind a tree, or peering out from a dark alleyway as they passed by. Finally, they came to a stop in front of an old rustic-looking bar. It was the only place on their journey that looked like it was open for business and inviting people to come inside. It had a large neon sign over the front window which glowed brightly into the night reading simply, “Sutter’s”, and one on the door that said “Open”. However, although the bar was clearly lit up for business, as was the case with the rest of the town, they couldn’t see anyone inside it, as they looked through the enormous plate glass window which wrapped around most of the establishment.
“Okay, I’ll bite, where is everyone?” Mac asked, his voice wavering a little, betraying his nervousness as he finally broke the silence.
“Well, it is a sleepy little tourist town after all. Maybe they just don’t have much of a thriving night life here,” John proposed, not truly believing a word of it.
“Hey, since there’s no one here, you want to just rob the place? I mean we’ve still got guns and some explosives left over. It sure would be a shame to waste ‘em. Come on guys, what do ya say? It’ll be fun,” Kurt suggested jokingly.
“No, we’ve already robbed a bank today. I’m pretty sure that means we’ve hit our thievery quota for the day. Gotta leave something for the other charming bandits to rob; it’s part of the code. Besides, I’ve got a much better idea anyway. Let’s just find my little brother, get our new van and our new identities, and get out of here as soon as humanly possible,” John said firmly.
“Yeah, I’m all for that. Let’s do that one, please,” Mac replied.
“Well, as much as I’m going to miss all the fun and excitement that seems to be going down around here, I guess I’ll ignore what I worked so hard to learn in school, cowardly buckle to overwhelming peer pressure, and just side with the group. I guess we should go inside and see if anybody’s about then,” Kurt said.
“Yeah, I think I’ll just wait in the car, if that’s okay with you guys,” replied Mac, looking around, obviously unsettled.
“Suit yourself; enjoy the sights and lack of sounds of this ghost town,” John said to him, smiling. He and Kurt then got out of the car and, finding the front door unlocked, went inside the bar.
Mac continued to nervously look around, his eyes darting in every direction, looking for the slightest sign of movement and finally he said, “Oh, yeah, screw this; I’m not waiting alone in the car in Creepyville. I know how that horror movie turns out!” He jumped out of the car as quickly as he possibly could and scrambled to follow them inside.
***
“Hello?” John called out as they entered the diner; looking around the room as he did. He proceeded, peering around every corner shouting, “Hello, anybody here? You’ve got possibly paying customers. We come in peace!” Finally he gave up, shrugged, and they all sat down uneasily at the bar. The interior was set up like an old fashioned diner, with cozy, colorful booths and a large bar in the middle, surrounded by black bar stools where they now found themselves seated.
“I’m just gonna come out and say it. This doesn’t seem creepy to you guys in any way? The whole town is just completely deserted?” Kurt asked.
“Don’t be silly, Kurt; I’m sure someone’s around. They’re probably all just in bed right now, or at a hoedown, or some such nonsense. Who knows what they do for wacky late night fun in little towns like this?”
“Right, that seems perfectly logical, John. I can see the billboards now, ‘Come See the Amazing, World-renowned Musicarolina midnight, all-town Hoedown’.”
“Hey, it could happen!”
“Yeah, it could; happens all the time, I’m sure. I mean, nowhere I’ve ever heard of, but I’m sure it happens.”
“Well, it really doesn’t matter anyway, because we’re not sticking around to find out. I’m just going to call my brother so we can get out of here,” John said. With that, John took out his phone, checked it, but saw he wasn’t getting any reception. “Oh, yeah, that figures. Hey, by any chance either of you guys got any bars on your cell phones, or have we wandered into a bad slasher movie?” John asked. Kurt and Mac warily produced their phones, checked them and slowly shook their heads ‘No’, looking rather disturbed by this latest unsettling revelation. “Great, that’s just perfect
, and admittedly, more than a little pants-wettingly terrifying.”
“Well, what do we do now? What’s the plan? Do we just wait around here for the inevitable backwoods, redneck serial killer with a chainsaw to show up, or what?” Kurt asked.
“Well, I guess we search the town until we find my brother, building to building if we have to. Shouldn’t take too long; it’s not like he could hide in a place this size.”
“Hey, there’s someone now!” Mac shouted, excitedly pointing out the window. They turned to look where he was pointing and saw an older man jogging down the road toward the bar.
“There, see? There’s somebody and you were all worried, you big sissies,” John said, while secretly breathing a deep sigh of relief.
“I wouldn’t say I was worried; it was more like slightly concerned, really,” Kurt replied.
“Slightly concerned, really...that’s what you’re going with?”
“Yeah, I’m also more than a little concerned that we weren’t invited to this legendary hoedown of which you spoke. You know, it’s a bad sign for our first day in town and all, that already we’re being excluded from all the major social functions. I mean the ‘Amazing, World-renowned Musicarolina midnight, all-town Hoedown’? Why, a fella might never recover from being shunned from an event of that magnitude.” They all began to laugh as they were feeling the tension begin to dissipate for the first time today.
The old man entered the bar and while slicking his unkempt hair back and adjusting his shirt, immediately said as if carefully rehearsed, “Greetings, weary travelers. My name is Sutter and this here, if you haven’t already guessed, or are unable to read—which ain’t nothing to be ashamed of, friends—is Sutter’s! I am very sorry I wasn’t here behind the counter to greet y’all right and proper-like, but I was unavoidably delayed at an important town meeting. Now, my humble apologies outta the way; down to business. What’ll y’all be having tonight?”
“Well, first of all, I thank you for that rather magnanimous greeting, but nothing for us tonight, please. However, if you could give us some simple information, we’d be most obliged,” John said.
“Obliged?” Kurt whispered to him.
“I’m just trying out the local lingo—be cool,” John shot back.
“I’ll take liquor. Lots and lots of liquor,” Mac interjected, slamming some money onto the bar.
“All righty, young fella, that’s the spirit! That’s what I like to hear,” Sutter said, taking his money. He quickly poured a glass of beer and slid it down the bar to Mac. “Now what kinda information are y’all needin’?”
“I’m looking for my brother. He should’ve come to town about two days ago with his girlfriend. Said they were staying here in town, at some kind of bed and breakfast, or something. I have a picture of him,” John said, reaching in his pocket and producing his cell phone. He quickly scrolled through until he found a picture of Jack, which he showed to the bartender.
Sutter squinted his eyes, looking hard at the photo. As he did, John thought there was something not quite right about his gaze. It was hard to put a finger on; it was almost as if he was struggling to focus on not just the object, but onto reality itself. Finally, he said, “No, I ain’t seen him in my life, at least I don’t think so. I can’t say as I remember anyone comin’ to town lately anyway, but I suppose I could be wrong. I doubt it though. We don’t get many travelers ‘round these parts and they all would have to eat right here at some point. During the daytime, you see, this here place is a regular, respectable diner and it’s the only restaurant in town to boot; can’t see as how I coulda missed ‘em. However, if they were staying at a bed and breakfast though, like you say, then it musta been Miss Bay’s place across the street,” he said, pointing out the window toward a house just a short distance down the street. He continued, “It’s the only bed and breakfast in town so if they’d be anywhere, it’d almost have to be there.”
“Thanks, you’ve been most helpful. Let’s go, you guys,” John said, getting up and heading for the door.
“Actually, I think I’m gonna stay here and drink awhile,” Mac said.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Kurt asked.
“I think I more than earned it and after all, I did already pay the man. It’d be a shame to waste perfectly good money. In fact, if you think about it, it’d be downright unpatriotic given our current economic climate.”
“Always the patriot, Mac; that’s what I love about you. Fair enough then; we’ll be right back for you, promise. You drink carefully now; remember it’s for America. Come on, Kurt,” John said, motioning to his friend. He and Kurt left Sutter’s and quickly rushed off down the street toward the house, in a hurry to find John’s brother so they could leave both this odd little night and this odd little town far behind them.
“Keep ‘em coming,” Mac declared, rapidly downing his beer and slamming the glass on the bar.
“You betcha, young fella,” Sutter replied, pouring him another drink. The whole time he poured, he watched intently as John and Kurt moved down the street and finally disappeared from view into the night. After he had slid the second beer down to Mac, he turned and picked up the antique phone that hung on the wall behind him. He quickly began to dial.
***
John and Kurt arrived in front of the building Sutter had pointed out to them. It was large like the others, but this one was made of reddish bricks instead of stone. It had hand-made wooden shutters on each tall, paned window, and large colorful flowerbeds surrounded the entire building, with several small gardens dotted across the lawn. A large wooden sign hung over the front door with the words “Miss Bay’s Bed and Breakfast” delicately carved into it. They tried the front door. It was unlocked, so they opened the door and went inside. A tiny, antique silver bell sat on top of a massive wooden counter that wrapped the entire distance around the front near the stairs. John rang the bell. Nothing happed, so he rang the bell again and then, frustrated, rang it once more; this time slamming his hand down upon it. Finally, an older woman, conspicuously and fancifully overdressed, came around the corner and stood behind the counter facing them, straightening her clothes slightly as she did.
“Why, hello there, dearies; my name is Miss Bay, but everyone ‘round here just calls me Mother. I’m not saying that you have to, but I do enjoy it so. May I say, I am so glad to see visitors in my humble home, even if you have arrived at such a dreadfully late hour. I’m sure that you must be extremely tired from all of your very wearying travels; so tell me, what can I do for you? Would you like a room or perhaps some supper? I have some lovely leftover meatloaf that’d warm up right nicely for you if you’re hungry. Furthermore, may I just take a moment to say that you two are such a lovely couple,” Miss Bay rambled, seemingly without taking a breath.
“Yeah, we’re not a couple, ma’am, but thanks all the same,” John replied.
“Why would you say that? Are you ashamed of me?” Kurt asked jokingly.
“Oh dearies, it’s perfectly okay, really. I don’t judge, whatever you want to do in the privacy of one of my cozy little rooms is entirely your own steamy affair. In fact, you are in luck tonight, gentleman; I have an enchanting honeymoon suite that’d be just perfect for a couple of handsome, young lovers like yourselves,” she replied sweetly.
“Yeah, still not a couple, and really all we need is some information. You see, my brother came to this town a few days ago with his girlfriend. Mr. Sutter said you might have seen him; here’s his picture,” John said, once again producing his cell phone and showing her the photo of Jack. Miss Bay looked carefully at it as he said, “My brother said he was staying at a bed and breakfast here in town. The bartender said this was the only bed and breakfast here in town. So I’m assuming, quite logically I might add, that he must be here.”
“Well, it surely is the only place in town. That is quite right, to be sure, but I’m afraid that I haven’t had any boarders for quite a while now. It’s not exactly the tourist season right now
, don’t you know, and business hasn’t been as good as I’d hoped for as of late. However, I wouldn’t give up hope entirely, dearies, as many of the townsfolk hereabouts take in boarders for a little extra cash now and again. I’m sure your brother is simply staying with one of them.”
“Well, I would try calling him, but none of our phones are getting any reception here.”
“Oh, we don’t get any cell phone reception out here, dearies. The mayor has always blocked any of those awful cell tower thingies that tried to come anywhere near here. They are nasty, repulsive little things. Not just the towers, but the phones too; people are always jabbering on them, or typing away, not taking the slightest moment to pay any attention to the beauty of the world surrounding them. We find that they take away from the rustic beauty that we have always tried to maintain in our little village. That’s why it is such a wonderful and whimsical place for people to come and visit. In fact, I don’t know of a single, solitary person that ever came to our town and didn’t just love it so much that they stayed here for the rest of their lives.”
“Of course, well it certainly is, uh, charming, to say the least,” John said, trying to hide his frustration.
“Tell you what, kind sirs; I’m sure you can look for him first thing in the morning. He’ll be a lot easier to spot in the daylight, I reckon. Wouldn’t do you any good to look tonight anyway; everyone is at the town meeting, don’t you know. So why don’t I fix you up with a few rooms for the night, and since you arrived so late and are so desperately concerned for the safety of your dear brother, I’ll give you tonight at half price.”
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